Tyreek Hill is still reeling after a shocking encounter with local police ahead of his team’s first NFLgame. TheMiami Dolphins star, known for his lightning speed on the field, told CNN he’s struggling to process the ordeal that unfolded just hours before facing the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hill, who was pulled over for a moving violation, found himself forcibly removed from his car by officers, leaving him stunned and embarrassed.
In an interview with Kaitlan Collins, Hill described the terrifying moments that led to his detainment, revealing how quickly the situation escalated. “One minute I was driving, the next I was on the ground,” he recalled. “It all happened so fast. I didn’t even have time to think.” The bodycam footage released by police shows Hill being pulled from his car multiple times as officers struggled to control the situation.
The wide receiver admitted he wasn’t moving as fast as officers wanted, but he had his reasons. “I’ve got injuries, man. I play a physical sport, and I just had knee surgery,”Hill said. “I was trying to comply, but I guess they thought I wasn’t moving fast enough for them.” He added that he’s still “shell-shocked” by the whole experience, feeling embarrassed by how things played out.
The South Florida Police Benevolent Association quickly jumped to the defense of the officers, claiming Hill was uncooperative during the stop. However, Hill disputes that account, explaining that he provided his identification but raised his window to avoid drawing attention from passing fans. “I let my window down, gave them my ID, then rolled it back up because I didn’t want a scene. But that wasn’t enough for them,” Hill said, recounting how officers demanded he lower the window again.
Hill said he tried to explain that he didn’t want fans recognizing him and taking pictures, but the officers weren’t interested. “I wasn’t trying to make a scene,”Hill insisted. “I just wanted to get my ticket and go.” Despite his efforts to remain low-key, the situation spiraled out of control, with officers threatening to forcibly remove him from the car if he didn’t comply.
Hill shares his fears about the incident and how it could have ended tragically if he weren’t famous
The aftermath of the incident still weighs heavily on Hill’s mind. He told CNN that, as a Black man, he couldn’t help but wonder how things might have gone if he weren’t a famous NFL player.“If I wasn’t Tyreek Hill, who knows how this would’ve ended? That’s the scariest part,” he said. The star wide receiver admitted that the thought of what could’ve happened keeps replaying in his head.
Adding to the chaos, Hill’s teammates Calais Campbell and Jonnu Smith showed up to help, only for Campbell to be detained as well. “They put Calais in handcuffs just for being tall,”Hill said with a laugh, though the humor couldn’t hide the gravity of the situation. “It was crazy, man.”
Despite the terrifying ordeal, Hill managed to turn his frustration into motivation on the field. He scored an 80-yard touchdown during the Dolphins’ victory against the Jaguars, celebrating with a gesture that some believe referenced his earlier encounter with police. With his hands behind his back, Hill’s celebration mimicked being handcuffed.
The Miami Dolphins didn’t hold back either, issuing a strong statement condemning the officers’ actions as “despicable.” The team expressed gratitude that the situation didn’t escalate further, but called for accountability and swift action against the officers involved. Hill, for his part, hopes the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of using his platform for positive change in the community.
